Team Akofena wins maiden MTN Game Developer Contest

      Kumasi, Oct. 27, GNA – Team Akofena, developers of a browser-based fighting game inspired by Ghanaian heroes and folk legends, has emerged the overall winner of the maiden MTN Game Developer Contest held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. 

The team, comprising Caleb Mantey, Nicholas Abakah Eshun, Wilson Worlako Aziaka and Bismark Agyare, won the competition with their game, Akofena, to take home an Apple MacBook Pro M5. 

Team African Household Drama, led by Abigail Yaa Selasi Birikorang, placed second with a choice-based storytelling game inspired by experiences in Ghanaian households, earning a Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. 

Team Path Puzzle, led by Apau Gyedu Ebenezer, placed third with a three-dimensional maze puzzle game inspired by Ananse’s quest for a gourd of wisdom, winning an Apple iPhone 17 Air. 

The contest, organised by MTN Ghana as part of its 30th anniversary celebration, seeks to nurture local talent, support the development of indigenous games and create opportunities for Ghanaians to benefit from the growing gaming industry. 

Akofena is a browser-based 2.5D fighting game that transforms Ghanaian heroes and folk legends into playable characters.  

Its prototype features three legends, two stages, local two-player matches and guided training. 

African Household Drama uses interactive storytelling to explore familiar experiences of growing up in a Ghanaian household.  

Players make decisions in everyday family situations, with their choices influencing parental reactions and the direction of the story. 

The game combines humour, nostalgia and recognisable cultural experiences to engage players. 

Path Puzzle, the third-placed entry, is a 3D maze game in which players rotate blocks to create paths and guide Ananse to his destination before time runs out. 

The game features 15 handcrafted levels that combine Ghanaian folklore, character dialogue and increasingly challenging puzzles. It is also designed for low-end Android phones. 

In the student category, Team Sankofa, comprising Isaac Appiah-Quansah and Derrick Makafui Zevor, placed first, followed by Team Megamind, represented by Moro Abdul Latif, in second place. 

Team Four Goal, comprising Clement Asare, Appiah Felix and Wisdom Kwame Agbanyo, placed third. 

In the industry game developer category, Team Akofena took first place, followed by Team African Household Drama in second place and Team Path Puzzle in third place. 

The overall top three teams are also expected to benefit from mentorship and support to refine their projects. 

Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Kenneth Odeng Adade